Lord Tsugaru has been mentioned in folklore along with Harada Kurando involving fencing and a tale of a "white serpent God."[1] The area of Tsugaru was part of the holdings of the Tsugaru clan of Hirosaki Domain in the Edo period.

The economy of Tsugaru is heavily dependent on agriculture and commercial fishing. The city serves as a minor regional commercial center. Agricultural produce includes rice, apples, melons, watermelons, and Brasenia.